North LAs Vegas: Residents shout down gas station

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999 | 10:25 a.m.

North Las Vegas City Hall was packed with angry residents Wednesday night who loudly opposed a gas station proposal and a potential lawsuit settlement involving a housing development.

The council was set to deny a permit to allow a Terrible Herbst gas station at the entrance to the Eldorado master-planned community, after nearly 20 residents spoke out against it.

But after more than an hour of debate, the application was withdrawn, frustrating council members who said the matter had wasted the board's valuable time.

Terrible Herbst representative Sean Higgins had asked the council to allow a special-use permit to allow gas pumps at the southeast corner of Ann Road and Camino El Norte.

Higgins told the council that by allowing the use permit, it was fulfilling a need for the community.

"When we are looking for a location, we don't pick just any corner," he said. "We look at where there's a need."

But neighboring residents told the council that they didn't need another gas station.

Councilman William Robinson said he would have voted against the proposal since the council's job is to represent residents who clearly were against the proposal.

The council also denied a proposed lawsuit settlement, which could cost the city thousands of dollars as it goes forward in the appeal process.

A compromise settlement between the city and a developer would have had both parties paying only attorney fees and costs of litigation.

The lawsuit pertains to a proposed zoning reclassification from ranch estates to residential by Eva Inc., doing business as Fiesta Homes along the south side of Hammer and Allen lanes. The developer filed the suit after the council denied the zoning request.

A District Court judge ruled in the city's favor, and Fiesta Homes appealed the case to the Nevada Supreme Court. At a settlement conference with a judge, a compromise plan was presented.

The compromise would have mixed residential in with ranch estates.

Acting City Attorney Mark Zalaoras told the council that if the proposed compromise settlement is rejected, there is a risk that the Nevada Supreme Court may rule in favor of the developer and the entire parcel could be developed to R-1 (residential) standards. And appeal costs could soar above $25,000.

But angry homeowners asked the council to "roll the dice," and take the matter to court instead of settling because they want to maintain their ranch/estate lots.

"We've been dealing with this issue so long, it's like kissing a gorilla -- you can't let it go when you want to. Let's go all the way," Robinson said.

Mayor Michael Montandon cast the lone vote in favor of the settlement.